Equality On TrialVIDEO: On Sunday, it got a little better

VIDEO: On Sunday, it got a little better

September 29, 2010

By mattymatt

Matt previously wrote about this worthwhile effort — inspired by Dan Savage’s “It Gets Better” project — here. With the advent of internet-based activism, I think it’s always useful to find quick things people can do to help better the world, and here’s another one. Me, I’m going to record mine this Sunday.

Stay tuned tonight for coverage from the rest of today’s stops.-Adam

By Matt Baume

A big huge thanks to all the folks who showed up Sunday to help us tape a message from San Francisco to LGBT youth who feel lonely and isolated wherever they are. As the video says: it gets better!

https://youtube.com/watch?v=Bnev14XfUjY%3Ffs%3D1%26hl%3Den_US

We had a wonderful turnout, and everyone had amazing stories to tell from tear-jerkers to happy endings. Please do let me know what you think of the finished product: I’d love to hear your feedback for future videos.

And of course it’s never too late to make your own! This video tells the story of a very particular kind of person: someone who moved to San Francisco and is engaged in the activist community. But there are tons of other LGBT individuals out there whose lives are very different from those of the folks we met this weekend.

So please, keep telling your stories! Whether we’re sharing them with isolated youth or with our families or with each other, the more we see of each other, the more connected we become.

Since I posted this video, Dan Savage has put out a call for people in other cities to create similar messages. I would love to see more group videos come out in the days and weeks ahead. It is totally easy to do, so there’s no excuse not to! I put this video together in a matter of days and with very few resources, so I know you can, too. All it took was deciding to do it, emailing some friends to ask for their help, and emailing a few organizations to see if they could lend a hand. The response was phenomenal, and I can’t wait to see what sort of response this video inspires.

Let’s get to work.

NOM at the Jelly Belly tour stop: Signs that this... BREAKING: Judge Vaughn Walker announces retirement

578445 Comments2010-09-29+22%3A45%3A12mattymatt

1. Lesbians Love Boies | September 29, 2010 at 8:46 am

subscribe
2. AndrewPDX | September 29, 2010 at 8:49 am

moi aussi, merci.

Liberty, Equality, Fraternity
Andrew
3. Kathleen | September 29, 2010 at 8:52 am

Great project.
4. Ronnie | September 29, 2010 at 9:00 am

I concur…..<3…Ronnie
5. Jonathan H | September 29, 2010 at 9:39 am

Subscribing. You didn't see me, I was never here
6. JonT | September 29, 2010 at 10:01 am

We have never been at war with Oceania, we have always been at war with Eurasia.

(Subscribing, 1984-style 🙂

And this is a great project.
7. bonobo | September 29, 2010 at 9:55 am

subscribe
8. Ann S. | September 29, 2010 at 8:51 am

Better and better!

Thanks!
Ann
9. Alan E | September 29, 2010 at 8:53 am

Mine is coming this weekend.
10. Richard A. Walter (s | September 29, 2010 at 8:58 am

Will catch up later.
11. Mark M (Seattle) | September 29, 2010 at 9:06 am

Promise to get ours finished and posted in the next few days….I promise! 🙂
12. Gregory in Salt Lake | September 29, 2010 at 11:14 am

😀
13. Lesbians Love Boies | September 29, 2010 at 9:07 am

OT – please remember to ask your friends if they are registered to vote:

CNN/Time Poll: Democrats on top in California governor and Senate contests

A new poll indicates that the Democrats are opening up leads in the California battles for senator and governor.

According to a CNN/Time/Opinion Research Corporation poll released Wednesday, 52 percent of likely voters in the Golden State say they support Democratic Sen. Barbara Boxer, with 43 percent backing Republican challenger Carly Fiorina.

A USC/Los Angeles Times poll released over the past week put the three-term senator's lead at eight points, with a California Field Poll giving Boxer a six-point edge.

Among a larger sampling of registered voters, the CNN/Time survey indicates that Boxer leads Fiorina by 19 points, 56 to 37 percent. Boxer's share of the vote among registered voters is up eight percentage points since the beginning of the month.

According to the poll, Fiorina holds a 14-point advantage among independents likely to vote in the general election.

read more: http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2010/09/29/c…
14. Eden James | September 29, 2010 at 9:23 am

Hey everyone — don't know if you noticed, but WordPress finally allowed us the option to include Facebook, Reddit, Digg, and Stumbleupon share options on each post.

I just used it on Facebook to share the following with my friends:

—-
Watch the video that the amazing Matt Baume did on Sunday in SF, inspired by Dan Savage's "It Gets Better" project. Given the news the last few days about LGBT kids committing suicide because of bullying, videos like this could literally save lives:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bnev14XfUjY
15. Lesbians Love Boies | September 29, 2010 at 9:25 am

I used it too earlier : )
16. Kathleen | September 29, 2010 at 9:28 am

UPDATE: The amicus brief of The Pacific Justice Institute (CA9Doc 60 at Scribd account) has been replaced by CA9Doc 116. The two appear identical except for a corrected cover sheet. PJI filed their original amicus brief with a cover sheet indicating the brief was in support of Appellants Imperial County et al. PJI was asked to submit a corrected brief, which they did today. http://www.scribd.com/doc/38435001/CA9Doc-116

Also, for those following along with email notices from the court, this error created confusion and resulted in several docket entries which have since been deleted by the clerk, including admitting County of Imperial et al as amicus curiae in the case (they're not – they're official appellants).

The other thing that came through that has me scratching my head is the motion from Tammy Cravit to file a late brief (CA9Doc 109 on Scribd). If I'm understanding this correctly, she filed an amicus brief in support of Plaintiffs (Appellees) and thus her filing isn't late. I'll wait a few days to see if this sorts itself out before making inquiries.
17. Eden James | September 29, 2010 at 9:52 am

Thanks again (and as usual), Kathleen, for staying on top of it for the P8TT community.
18. Kate | September 29, 2010 at 9:54 am

Hmmm….. I thought Tammy Cravit was filing EARLY. Too bad she made this error (request to file late), as her brief was really excellent, and now she looks mixed up.
19. Kathleen | October 1, 2010 at 6:54 am

From communications with Tammy Cravit I've learned her motion to file a late brief was submitted at the instruction of one of the clerks of the court in the 9th Circuit. Tammy spoke to the clerk's office again today, trying to get clarification and when it became obvious that the motion was unnecessary, Tammy suggested she withdraw it. The clerk advised against it, saying that withdrawal of the motion might be misinterpreted as withdrawing her brief. The clerk said Tammy should just leave the motion in place and let the Court deny the motion as being moot. Sheesh.

Anyway, just thought I'd let everyone know this was not the result of Tammy not understanding what she was doing.
20. Kathleen | September 29, 2010 at 10:08 am

Yeah, I'm not sure if she initiated the motion for late filing or was asked to do so by the clerk of the court. It's possible it's the latter as a result of a misunderstanding.

It's been much more difficult following the docket entries from the 9th Circuit than it was from the district court. The email notices don't appear to give the docket entry numbers (if they're there somewhere and someone know where to look for them, please let me know!). Those with documents aren't a problem, as the docket entry number is always at the top of the pdf file. But for others, I have to just go by the time stamps to put them in order and occasionally do a query of the docket to make sure I have them entered correctly.

Also, they don't send out notices when they delete a docket entry. I called the docket clerk to ask about entry of Imperial County as an amicus curiae in the case and at that time they were still trying to sort out the errors. But the only way I knew they'd been deleted was pulling a copy of the docket sheet. …. it's been a bit of a headache. 🙁
21. Mandy | September 29, 2010 at 9:29 am

weird the site is not letting me post comments
22. Trish | September 29, 2010 at 9:30 am

SAN FRANCISCO —- The United States District Court for the Northern District of California announces today that Chief Judge Vaughn R. Walker will step down as chief judge effective December 31, 2010. Also, Chief Judge Walker notified President Obama by letter today that he will leave the court in February 2011.
I just received the following notification:

Chief Judge Walker has been a United States District Judge since February 5, 1990 and has served as chief judge of the court since September 1, 2004. Before becoming a federal judge, Chief Judge Walker was a litigation partner at the firm now known as Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP. Upon leaving the federal bench, Chief Judge Walker plans to return to the private sector.

In his letter to the President, Chief Judge Walker said: “Concluding twenty-one years of judicial service, I leave the bench with the highest respect and regard for the federal judiciary, its judges and their staff and the essential role they fulfill in our constitutional system.”

By statute, United States district chief judges are selected based on a combination of age, seniority and experience and may serve in the post for a maximum of seven years. 28 USC § 136. By application of this statute, District Judge James Ware will assume the post of chief judge of the Northern District on January 1, 2011.
23. Trish | September 29, 2010 at 9:30 am

In my haste, I see I put the "I just received the following information" in the wrong spot. *sigh* I wish there were an "edit" button.
24. Lesbians Love Boies | September 29, 2010 at 9:32 am

Wow, good for him! I wish him the best of luck. I am actually happy to see him go back into the private sector.
25. Mandy | September 29, 2010 at 9:32 am

so glad that you were able to post th e-mail. I was just trying to post it but it wouldn't got through!

I am sad that he will be stepping down.
26. Kate | September 29, 2010 at 9:50 am

Too bad the Jelly Belly folks didn't point out to the NOMbies, while discussing how Reagan helped their business, that Reagan was also the one who appointed Judge Walker.
27. Kathleen | September 29, 2010 at 9:34 am

Best wishes to him.
28. Kate | September 29, 2010 at 9:37 am

I guess the NOMbies et al will claim that they forced him out. (Cue the add'l donations, please.)
29. Lesbians Love Boies | September 29, 2010 at 9:42 am

Since they seem to have everything to do with everything that happens in the world, I don't doubt that for a moment. Must be awfully lonely to have such smalls brain in such big heads – I wonder does their heads make noise when they bob?
30. Lesbians Love Boies | September 29, 2010 at 9:43 am

lol ' small brains – perhaps I need to have my head examined too!
31. Michelle Evans | September 29, 2010 at 9:55 am

Maybe they are the product of the mouse/human brains that Christine O'Donnell keeps talking about. 🙂 With that possibility in mind, NOM now makes a lot more sense.
32. Trish | September 29, 2010 at 10:27 am

My wife has expressed concern that he might be getting pushed out. Word is he's going into private practice. After 20 years of being a federal judge, I think that it's just time. Plus, he's going out with a bang — and no other case is going to be as interesting after Proposition 8.
33. Kathleen | September 29, 2010 at 10:34 am

I can't imagine that he would be getting pressure to leave. I do have a bit of concern that there could possibly be lingering issues from the case that will be left for someone else to resolve. But he's earned his retirement from the bench and I can hardly begrudge him that. I plan to send him a thank you letter.
34. Trish | September 29, 2010 at 10:43 am

A thank you letter would be great. I think that's a great idea.
35. Sagesse | September 29, 2010 at 9:31 am

Subcribe me.
36. StraightForEquality | September 29, 2010 at 9:46 am

'Scribe me too.
37. Lori | September 29, 2010 at 10:04 am

Keep doing this. The message to LGBTQ students, and really any victim of bullying is crucial. It DOES get better.

RIP Tyler.
38. Chris in Lathrop | September 29, 2010 at 10:48 pm

Comcast mentions the It Gets Better Project in passing. Wish they'd have listed the URL for viewers.
39. Chris in Lathrop | September 29, 2010 at 10:50 pm

Helps if I post the link! LOL
40. Chris in Lathrop | September 29, 2010 at 10:50 pm

Ok, I don't know where it went, so here it goes the hard way: http://www.comcast.net/articles/news-general/2010…
41. Dpeck | September 29, 2010 at 1:40 pm

Hey, small world! I know one of the guys in the video.

Nicely done!
42. Kathleen | September 30, 2010 at 7:36 am

ABC News picks up "It Gets Better" Project story http://abcnews.go.com/WN/dan-savage-project-world…
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